Adrian Grenier
Adrian Grenier is an American actor recognized for his roles in independent films like The Adventures of Sebastian Cole, as well as for his longtime the popular cable television series Entourage.
Synopsis
Actor Adrian Grenier was born on July 10, 1976, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He began to appear in independent films like The Adventures of Sebastian Cole in the late 1990s, and then received roles in mainstream features like Drive Me Crazy and The Devil Wears Prada. He is best known for his role in the television series Entourage (2004-11).
Early Life and Education
Adrian Grenier was born on July 10, 1976, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His mother, Karesse Grenier, had met his father, John Dunbar, when the two were living in a commune in Crayville, New York. Grenier was raised in Brooklyn, New York, by his mother, who worked as a real estate agent.
Grenier graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City. He then attended Bard College, a liberal arts college in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, where he studied drama and music. He graduated in 1998.
Film Career
While still a college student, Grenier made his film debut in the independent movie Arresting Gena in 1997. He gained critical attention in 1998, when he was featured in another independent film, a comedy-drama about a dysfunctional family titled The Adventures of Sebastian Cole. He also took a small role in Woody Allen's Celebrity in 1998, appearing alongside Leonardo DiCaprio.
For the next decade, Grenier balanced work in quirky films like John Waters's Cecil B. Demented (2000), with appearances in more mainstream releases such as Drive Me Crazy (1999) and Steven Spielberg's A.I. (2001). He then played the boyfriend of Anne Hathaway's character in The Devil Wears Prada (2006).
'Entourage'
Despite an initial lack of interest in appearing on television, Grenier took a starring role on the HBO series Entourage, playing a movie star named Vincent Chase who navigates the thrills and pitfalls of Hollywood with the help of his childhood friends (played by Kevin Connolly, Jerry Ferrara and Kevin Dillon) and his agent (played by Jeremy Piven). Entourage, which was loosely based on the life of rapper turned actor Mark Wahlberg, was a success and ran for eight seasons, from 2004 through 2011.
Documentary Work and Other Projects
Grenier has also worked on several documentary films. In 2002, he chronicled his own reunion with his father, from whom he had been estranged for 18 years, in A Shot in the Dark. He went on to direct 2010's Teenage Paparazzo, a study of celebrity obsession inspired by 13-year-old paparazzo Austin Visschedyk. In 2012, he produced How To Make Money Selling Drugs, an examination of the illegal drug industry.
Outside of his acting career, Grenier is active in environmental causes. He appeared on the cable TV series Alter Eco, which discussed green lifestyle issues, in 2008, and later launched SHFT.com, a website promoting sustainable living.
Additionally, Grenier is a musician and performs in two New York-based bands: He is the lead singer of the band Kid Friendly, and performs as a drummer, guitarist and vocalist for the folk-rock quintet the Honey Brothers. He launched Wreckroom, a recording studio and performance space, in 2012.
